KBF shed light on league promotion format

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) find themselves in an unprecedented situation as the league conclusion nears with the lower division leagues having witnessed exit of many teams during the Covid-19 occasioned break. 

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While the men's top tier league has maintained its 12 teams with the return of Embakasi Youth (EMYBA) who has not played their league matches since the league resumed with guidelines for Covid-19 tests but have since resumed play last month, the women's league has ten teams and none will be relegated. 

The federation has, however, been left scratching their heads over the division one league situation with the men's league having only five active teams with eight teams competing in the women's league. 

To address the predicament, KBF fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko says the federation will deal with each team's situation on case by case basis. 

"Some of these teams had valid reasons for not playing in the leagues this season. This was an unforseen situation and we do not have a guideline for it in our constitution. We will listen to the teams and then come up with a way forward,"

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"In the event that the teams cannot create a league on their own, we are contemplating combining the men's division one and two teams to make a division one league that can played in conferences," offered Amoko. 

With Riara Women and United States International University (USIU) teams having not played the women's top tier league this season, none of the women's teams is expected to be relegated.

With two promoted from division one, the lower women's league will now have six teams and it remains to be seen whether the federation will promote more teams from the regional leagues since the women's league does not have a division two league. 

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Meawhile, league action is likely to spill over to 2022. The regular league action is expected to conclude this month leaving little time for the playoffs seeing as some Premier league teams have other engagements. 

"With Ulinzi Warriors set to be out for Basketball Africa League (BAL) elite 16 qualifiers in December, we are likely to play the playoff quarters then reserve the semis and finals for early next year, " confirmed Amoko.